* "Boele" or "Bole" (Dutch): This meant "lover" or "sweetheart". It seems strange, right? But in the 16th century, it referred to a "swain," a young man courting a woman.
* "Boelen" (Dutch): This meant "to flirt" or "to woo."
* "Boele" (Dutch): This evolved to mean "bluffer" or "braggart," likely due to how someone courting might exaggerate their qualities.
* "Bully" (English): This finally emerged, referring to someone who used intimidation or force to get their way, likely because it was linked to the idea of someone pushing their desires onto another person (like a suitor).
So, the word "bully" went from a term for a romantic pursuer to a term for someone who uses power and intimidation, a journey that reflects the evolution of its meaning over time.